Starter clutch for internal combustion engines



June 2l, 1938.

L.. s.v LOVE 2,121,547

STARTER CLU-TCH FOR INTERNAL: COMBUSTION ENGINES original Filed Mai-.ch e, 1953 Patented June 2l, 1938 ATE'E` FFICE STARTER CLUTCH FOR INTERNAL COM- BUSTION ENGINES Lawrence S. Love, Great Neck, N. Y.

Application March 8, 1933, Serial No. 659,997 Renewed November 9, 1937 3 Claims.

My invention relates to starting devices for internal combustion engines as used in automobiles, motor boats and the like and contemplates an unique arrangement of clutch member which is scientifically designed to transmit a turning motion fromv the electric starting motor to the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine for starting, but will permit over-riding when the starting motor is idle or not required.

One of the principal dim'culties with starting devices in common use is excessive breakage of parts and frequent failure to function in extremely cold Weather because of congealing of lubricating grease. In designing this starting device I have arranged to accomplish the desired result of starting an internal combustion engine without the use of delicate and complicated mechanisms subject to breakage and also to have the entire principal portion of the device enclosed in an oil tight case in which it may function in an oil bath, thereby eliminating tendency to excessive wear from operating while unlubricated or when covered with dust or road grit. A further end achieved in this design is to provide a quiet, simple, dependable starting means which may be manufactured at low cost.

In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation showing a portion of an automobile engine and crankcase on which mounting is effected.

Figure 2 is .a side elevation. of they device partly in section to show arrangement of parts of preferred design.

Figure 3 is a front elevation. partly in section, on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

In the drawing is shown a starting device actuated by the conventional type of electric starting motor I driving at suitable speed reduction by means of sprocket 2 and chain 3 in the direction of the arrow to sprocket 4 which is a part of the actual starting clutch. Sprocket 4 is firmly affixed to bronze bushed sleeve 5 which it turns by means of key E. Sleeve 5 is a running t on crankshaft 'I which is free to revolve within sleeve 5. Mounted on sleeve 5 and free to move on it is toggle block guide member 8 which has three dovetailed guides in which the toggle blocks 9 may move in a radial direction. Adjacent to the toggle block guide member is a collar I so tted as to permit centering when in action but keyed by key I I to sleeve 5. The centering is permitted by reason of the fact that the bore of collar I0 is a few thousandths of an inch (too small to illustrate on the drawing) larger than the diameter of sleeve 5. The key II is firmly seated in sleeve 5, but the keyway therefor in collar I0 is made large enough to accommodate the necessary limited movement for centering. From collar I0 links I2 lead toy and actuate toggle blocks 9 moving them in a radial direction. At the end of sleeve 5 but entirely free from con- 10 nection with it is flanged collar I3 which is a tight fit on and keyed to crankshaft `I by key I4. Collar I3 is sc designed as to surround by its flanged periphery the toggle blocks 9. The entire mechanism with the exception of sprocket 4 is 15 enclosed by case I5 and cover IS bolted to it, in which are oil filler plug l1 and drain plug I8. Sealing against oil leakage is provided by gaskets I9 and 20.

In operation when the electric circuit is closed through the electric starting motor I, rotary motion is transmitted through sprocket 2 and chain 3 to sprocket 4. This is keyed to sleeve 5, which must turn with it. Sleeve 5 turns with it, by means of its keyed connection, the collar I0. As collar I!) starts to revolve it carries one end of links I2 in a rotary direction. These links as they move through an arc at the end connected to collar I0 have a camming effect on and push toggle blocks 9 radially from the center along 30 the dovetailed guides in guide block member 8 which due to inertia remains practically stationary until the entire mechanism is in action when it, too, revolves. As the toggle blocks advance they grip inside of the flanged periphery of collar I 3 which is keyed to crankshaft 'I. The entire mechanism being now firmly connected from the electric starting motor I to the crank shaft 'I this turns as long as the starting motor is excited. When the internal combustion engine begins to 40 function and the circuit in the electric starting motor I is cut, the cessation of rotating energy from the starting motor releases all parts of the starting device from torsional strain, whereupon spring 2| acting on lever extension 22 returns 45 collar I0 to its original position with lever extension 22 resting against stop 23. The opposite end of spring 2I is connected to a shouldered screw fixed in a boss on the toggle block guide member 8. This movement returning collar I0 to its 50 original position pulls toggle blocks 9 from contact with flange I3 leaving it free to revolve with the crankshaft 'I within case I5 and serving to cascade oil over the entire mechanism, keeping it thoroughly ushed at all times. Stop 23 also 55 serves to prevent toggle block guide member B from floating out of proper normal position and -to prevent jamming of the device in case of back firing of the engine.

It is to be understood that modifications may be made in the form, details of construction, arrangement of parts, or means of actuating the device, without departing from. the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim. is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines an engine crankshaft, an annular driving rig xed thereto, a sleeve freely mounted on said shaft, a friction block guide member freely mounted on said sleeve, a collar xed on said sleeve, three equally spaced radially movable friction blocks guided on Ways formed on the said block guide member and linked to the said collar and adapted to be expanded to contact the driving ring in one direction of rotation and retracted in the other, spring means to return the said friction blocks to a stopped normally disengaged position; and means to rotate the said sleeve when starting.

2. In a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, an engine crankshaft, an annular driving ring fixed thereto, a sleeve freely mounted on said shaft, a friction block guide member freely mounted on said sleeve, a collar fixed on said sleeve, three equally spaced radially movable friction blocks guided on ways formed on the said block guide member and linked to the said collar and adapted to be expanded to contact the driving ring in one direction of rotation and retracted in the other, a spring means to return the said friction blocks to a stopped, normally disengaged position: a case to enclose the principal portion of the device, adapted to exclude dust from the operating mechanism when in operation: and means to rotate the said sleeve when starting.

3. In a, starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, .an engine crankshaft, an annular driving ring fixed thereto, a sleeve freely mounted on said shaft, a friction block guide member freely mounted on said sleeve, a collar fixed on said sleeve, three equally spaced radially movable friction blocks guided on ways formed on the said block guide member and linked to the said collar and adapted to be expanded to contact the driving ring in one direction of rotation and retracted in the other, spring means to return the said friction blocks to a stopped normally disengaged position: a case to enclose the principal portion of the device, adapted to exclude dust from the mechanism when in operation; a screw plug near the top of the said case and one near the bottom, adapted to permit lling the case with oil and to drain and change the oil to allow the device to operate in clean oil at all times; and means to rotate the said sleeve when starting.

LAWRENCE S. LOVE. 

